that there was not one piece of true gold in it all. And Mr.
Pollard raged at us for it, and told us that our gold was as counterfeit
as the rotten bones that we worshipped. But indeed there was plenty of
gold; and the man lied; for it was a very rich shrine. God's vengeance
will fall on them for their lies and their robbery. Is it not so,
mistress?"

Lady Torridon lifted her eyes and looked at him. Her husband hastened to
interpose.

"Have you finished your wine, father?"

The monk seemed not to hear him; and his talk flowed on about the
destruction of the high altar and the spoiling of the reredos, which had
taken place on the following days; and as he talked he filled his
Venetian glass more than once and drank it off; and his lantern face
grew flushed and his eyes animated. Chris saw that his mother was
watching the monk shrewdly and narrowly, and feared what might come. But
it was unavoidable.

"We poor monks," the priest cried presently, "shall soon be cast out to
beg our bread. The King's Grace--"

"Is not poverty one of the monastic vows?" put in Lady Torridon
suddenly, still looking steadily at his half-drunk glass.

"Why, yes, mistress; and the King's Grace is determined to make us keep
it, it seems."

He lifted his glass and finished it; and put out his hand again to the
bottle.

"But that is a good work, surely," smiled the other. "It will be surely
a safeguard against surfeiting and drunkenness."

Sir James rose instantly.

"Come, father," he said to the staring monk, "you will be tired out, and
will want your bed."

A slow smile shone and laded on his wife's face as she rose and rustled
down the long hall.

* * * * *

Such incidents as this made life at Overfield very difficult for them
all; it was hard for these sore hearts to be continually on the watch
for dangerous subjects, and only to be able to comfort one another when
the mistress of the house was absent; but above all it was difficult for
Margaret. She was nearly as silent as her mother, but infinitely more
tender; and since the two were naturally together for the most part,
except when the nun was at her long prayers, there were often very
difficult and painful incidents.

For the first eighteen months after her return her mother let her
alone; but as time went on and the girl's resolution persevered, she
began to be subjected to a distressing form of slight persecution.

For example: Chris and